Conservative councillors in Bath & North East Somerset have called for improvements to be made to the Universal Credit system, following a Full Council meeting last week.
Image courtesy of B&NES Council
At the meeting on Thursday 9th November, councillors voted to approve a Conservative proposal which calls upon the Government to make a number of improvements to Universal Credit.
During the debate at the Council meeting, Conservative councillors voiced support for the Universal Credit system, which simplifies the welfare system by merging six benefits into one payment and ensures that working more always pays more.
However, Conservatives also said that experience in B&NES – which has been a pilot area for Universal Credit since 2013 – shows that improvements can be made to the system as it is rolled-out more widely.
Some of the improvements that Conservatives in Bath & North East Somerset are calling for include:
- Reducing the maximum wait for recipients to receive their first payment of Universal Credit from six weeks to four.
- Ensuring that advance payments, which are already available to new claimants, are properly signposted and Alternative Payment Arrangements in place for the most vulnerable.
- That the personal budgeting support available to claimants should be actively encouraged.
- That Universal Credit recipients placed in temporary accommodation should be awarded Housing Benefit to cover the Housing element of their costs.
- That an online application facility is provided for arranging appointments to see the Job Coach.
- That the Department for Work & Pensions work with the Council to improve data transfers between the organisations.
The Conservative proposals were adopted as an amendment to a Labour motion, which had called for a complete halt to the roll-out.
Councillor Charles Gerrish (Cons, Keynsham North), who is the Cabinet Member with responsibility for benefits on the Council, said: “There is clearly broad agreement that the principles behind Universal Credit are absolutely the right ones.
“It simplifies a complex welfare system by merging six benefits into one payment, it ensures that working more always pays more by gradually tapering the benefit as earnings rise, and by providing a single monthly payment direct to the recipient it mirrors the way most people are paid by employers.
“However, experience here in B&NES shows that improvements can be made to the way Universal Credit is implemented, and that lessons from pilot areas like ours should be taken on board as the system is rolled-out more widely.
“In particular, we would like to see more support for new recipients in the first weeks after their Universal Credit claim, with greater awareness of the availability of advance payments and a reduction in the maximum wait for the first payment from six weeks to four.
“We also want to see increased personal budgeting support for claimants, as well as other technical changes to improve data transfers between the Government and Council.
“As a Council we also administer our own Welfare Support Fund, which provides additional help for those who find themselves in particular hardship or in serious financial difficulties.
“I would recommend that any resident who is in this position to contact the Council’s welfare support team or visit one of our One Stop Shops.”
